Debt Validation
Your legal right to demand written proof from a debt collector that the debt they say you owe is real and that the amount is correct.
Debt validation is your right to ask a debt collector to prove that the debt they say you owe actually belongs to you and that the amount is correct. This right comes from a federal law called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692g). It applies to all Minnesota residents who are contacted by a debt collector.
When a debt collector first contacts you, they must send you a written notice with information about the debt. You then have 30 days from that first contact to send a written request asking them to validate the debt. Once you make that request, the collector must stop all collection activity until they send you written proof that the debt is real, that the amount is correct, and that they have the right to collect it.
If the collector cannot provide proper validation, they are not allowed to keep trying to collect. Many debts that are sold between collection agencies have errors in the amount, the name of the debtor, or the original creditor. Requesting validation is a simple step that protects you from paying a debt that may not even be yours.
Why it matters: Debt collectors sometimes pursue the wrong person, inflate the amount owed, or try to collect debts that are too old to enforce. Knowing you have the right to demand proof puts you in control. You do not have to take a collector at their word.
Example: Sarah in Eagan receives a call from a collection agency saying she owes $2,400 on a credit card she does not recognize. Within 30 days, Sarah sends a written letter requesting debt validation. The collection agency must stop contacting her until they provide written proof of the debt. When they cannot produce documentation linking the debt to Sarah, they are required to stop collection efforts.
When a debt collector contacts you by phone, letter, or email claiming you owe money